JacobLee 

There’s plenty of room in the frame for fenders, but my issue is with toe overlap. I have a cross bike that I fendered, and I’m constantly catching my foot on the thing. I had an SKS fender explode once on that bike. Maybe the Gugieficazione (my apologies for the spelling) of nlerner is the answer, with a re-raked fork and 650b wheels. Any toe overlap, nlerner?

I think a no-expense-spared gravel resto-mod would be super cool, but I feel like you’d replace every single part and still not have something as capable as a cheap 29er. It’d be sort of like when the mtb designers in the late 80’s realized that everybody was chewing up the touring parts on their mtbs, and made a bunch of design leaps. Of course, I resisted all of those changes at the time, so what do I know!

jackbombay

I'm under the impression that the International is an "almost high end road bike" so fenders seem out of place.

I quite like fenders myself, and have a few bikes with them, but I don't put them on my "performance" oriented bicycles.

nlerner

Nope, none, and that includes slow speed riding and turning around campus.

JacobLee 

There you go, gotta get the gugie!

ascherer 

Exhibit A:

jackbombay

Those do look good on there!


But the bike doesn't look like a "performance road bike" set up like that, super awesome high performance townie/light tourer? Yes! And I love this style of bike! I'm building one for a friend now, but it's just a different category for me than a full on asphalt smasher.

griffey

Love the color, very popular in it's day !

JacobLee 

And how about toe overlap? Crank length, tire size?

ascherer 

I wear size 13/46 shoes so toe overlap is kind of inevitable for me on most of my bikes.
That setup was moved to my Mk.1 but the details you ask about are 175 and 700x35 Bon Jon Pass. The current setup on that frame is either 170 or 175 cranks - I forget which, and 700x28 Paselas. I'll probably get bigger tires soon.
jackbombay You're right, this is not a go-fast setup. BITD a rider would have a set of light tubular wheels, 14-19 or 21 cluster and pull off the racks and fenders to make this race-ready.

ascherer 

When I had mine built traditionally I ended up with similar placement on wide Nittos. Like you say, it felt right.

JacobLee 

Wow, done right three ways! Is any one of those setups a clear favorite?

ascherer 

That’s a great question! I bought it as a frame/fork and each build has pushed different buttons. The “faithful” build satisfied my desire to have a bike like that when I was 16-17 years old. It also made me happy to put my old Campy and other components on a functional bike again, I would say that was the most beautiful to my eye. As I found myself taking it on trails and gravel, it got the fat tires and rando-style setup with a modern drivetrain that made it better suited for those adventure-style rides. From a comfort and convenience perspective that was a 10. When the chrome Mk.1 came my way I moved all those components over to that and fulfilled a desire to build a lighter and faster version of my 3-speed Sports that I use for commuting, shopping and MUPs around Manhattan. I haven’t started commuting yet but on errands and simple 10-milers around the city it’s been a capable hauler and a hoot to ride. So this incarnation is the most functional and - how can I put it - carefree?

It highlights what noglider once said about the Inernational: it’s a great canvas for many different kinds of builds.

JacobLee 

Uh-oh! My International spent too much time in the furnace room with my 87 Hardrock during quarantine, and they seem to have bred a monster. A climbing monster, that is!



This is my solution to a bunch of worn-out parts and a special frame that’s just a tad small. After my usual 10 miles and 1,000 ft, I’m giving it two thumbs up. It really is a fun ride.



I set it up originally with some 600 levers so I could use the cable hole in the stem, but I knew I was just gonna get grumpy when I came to my senses and installed the Tektro levers I’ve grown to love. I find myself climbing with my hands all over the hoods, so it’s aero levers for me. Too bad the ones I installed have black levers, because they just don’t look right, but they were $6 at the co-op, so they’ll do for now.



The red isn’t totally out of place!



Tight fit with a 113 bb and a couple of spacers on the ds, but it works.

Reading back over this thread reminds me how much I’ve learned after finding this bike and joining the forums. Thanks everyone for all of the wisdom and inspiration along the way. I’m excited about the next chapter of the 1971 International Garage Sale Find!!

repechage

All these big tares on these lime green internationals... my bike still has its original Weinmann Tubular rims... I guess I need to buy some big A. Dugast’s

jackbombay

What route is that in Portland? west side I'm sure, but I'm always looking for more climbing, well, when the sciatic nerve pain in my hip isn't giving me troubles...

Bike looks great!

JacobLee 

Thanks! The route is basically up to Council Crest from near Barbur and Terwilliger with a couple of laps around Fairmont. 10.5 miles and 983 ft to be exact. And not many cars, which is really nice.

JacobLee 

I never would have bought those tires, but they came on the wheels (Craigslist score!). They are really pretty amazing. Noisy, though. Compass 700x35.

J.Higgins 

For goodness sakes, please strip and polish that stem! It hurts! It hurts!

Rooney 

The pistachio green and red orange are peak 70s color combo; a tan/brown seat and bar wrap combo would make it undeniable. It reminds me of the hand-me-down Tupperware my parents had when I was growing up. I vote “keep”!

JacobLee 

Those are all great suggestions. We’ll see what crosses my path in terms of saddles and stuff. I have bad luck with anything but black bar tape, but the red cloth as found was really cool. I originally re-wrapped the bars with red Newbaums and they were quickly covered with dirt and grease. The stem is more of a blood red (Testors red was a perfect match for touch-up), but maybe if it sees more sun it’ll take on that Tupperware patina!